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4 clusters · 9 sources · 29 days · First seen · Last updated

International sporting events in Poland

Overview

Poland is hosting several major international and domestic sporting events in 2026. These include the Club European Karate Cup in Kielce, which drew 370 competitors from 60 clubs across 10 different countries in mid-September. The tournament featured junior, senior, and master categories and was described by organizers as a “significant step in promoting Full Contact Karate across Europe”.

In addition to karate, the V Uniformed Services Basketball Championships, known as ‘Basket Radom–Kielce 2026’, took place on September 19–20. The Katowice Provincial Police (KWP Katowice) took first place, followed by KWP Radom in second and KWP Rzeszów in third.

Krosno is also hosting the 26th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship, featuring between 104 and 120 pilots from 32 to 40 countries. Running from September 18 to September 25, 2026, the event includes ten competitive flight sessions and public attractions such as a ‘Balloon Town’.

In October 2026, disputes emerged regarding the World Karate Championships for cadets, juniors, and U21s held in Bielsko-Biała. Russian media agency TASS reported that Poland blocked the participation of 21 Russian karatekas, despite previous indications they would compete as neutral athletes under the World Karate Federation (WKF) designation. The Russian Federation of Karate suggested Poland is acting as a “hostage to politics.”

However, Paweł Połtorzecki, president of the Polish Karate Union, stated that no Russian athletes were registered by the deadline and that no athletes under the WKF 1 designation appeared on the registration list. He indicated it is unlikely the WKF would allow registrations after the deadline had passed.

Entities

FAI · Krosno · Kielce · TASS · Bielsko-Biała

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Poland and Russia clash over karate world championships participation

    Russian officials accuse Poland of blocking their athletes from the World Karate Championships in Bielsko-Biała, while Polish organizers claim no Russian athletes were registered by the deadline.

  2. [SPORTS] 5 sources
    Kielce and Radom host major karate and basketball championships

    Poland hosted major sporting events in September 2026, including the European Club Karate Cup in Kielce and the V Uniformed Services Basketball Championships in Radom and Kielce.

  3. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Krosno hosts 26th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship

    Krosno, Poland, is hosting the 26th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship from September 18–25, 2026, featuring international pilots and various aerial displays.

  4. [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Poland to host European Karate Cup and World Balloon Championship

    Poland is set to host major international competitions in 2026, including the Club European Karate Cup in Kielce and the 26th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Krosno.

Sources

ckinfo.pl · hcm.com.pl · nszzp.pl · powiat-legionowski.pl · radio.kielce.pl · sport.pl · sportowefakty.wp.pl · supernowosci24.pl · zbigniewdranka.pl

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history